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On October 12, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 37th meeting of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
During the meeting, a discussion was held on the future proceedings of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform and the priority issues for the third phase of the Council.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“The world is changing dramatically through the fourth industrial revolution. We will advance reforms by breaking down regulations and institutions that are rigid like bed-rock and prevent people from taking on new challenges. That resolve of the Abe Cabinet is unwavering. Today, the members of this Council have proposed the priority issues that should be addressed going forward.
 
The fourth industrial revolution brings groundbreaking innovations to a wide range of sectors, including finance, communications, and education. To further accelerate this trend, the Cabinet will exert its efforts, working in unity, to eliminate the governance gaps in regulations and institutions of various fields, such as by promoting online education and frequency band system reforms. The greatest challenge confronting our nation is the declining birthrate and aging of society. We must urgently implement measures to enhance child rearing and nursing care, such as institutional reforms to mitigate the childcare problems known as the “First Grade Wall” which parents face when their children enter elementary school, as well as those aimed at reducing to zero the number of people leaving employment to offer nursing care to their family members. Regulatory reforms are also the key to a strong regional revitalization process. We will also implement reforms that generate regional vitality, including reviewing regulations, such as those preventing the active use of drones, in order to turn agriculture into a growth industry.
 
Regulatory reform is the main engine for growth that will pave the way to a new era. It is at the core of the Abe Cabinet’s growth strategy. I ask for the cooperation of all members of this Council in materializing bold regulatory reforms.”